'Transparent' Documentary Highlights Shelley Hilliard's Murder

In November of 2011, Detroit Police identified a burned torso that was found on Detroit's east side, belonging to 19-year-old Shelley Hilliard, a transgender woman who was reported missing.

Some lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) activists believed that Hilliard, who was also known as Treasure , was murdered in a hate crime.

In December of 2011, new evidence surfaced that Hilliard was an informant, in which her death was possibly a result of a police sting gone wrong.

On June 19 the trailer for a new documentary titled "TransParent" was released. The documentary, produced and directed by Natasha "T" Miller and dream hampton highlights the life and death of the slain teen.

In addition to highlighting Hilliard's murder, the film also highlights Detroit's transgender community and issues such as sustainable employment.

Miller and hampton have launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise $30,000 by July 31 to assist with equipment rental, film festival submissions, production fees and the completion of the film. For more information in regards to the documentary and or fundraising campaign, click here.

The root of the word "transgender" comes from the Latin word "trans," meaning "across." A trans-Atlantic flight goes across the Atlantic Ocean; a transnational issue affects people all across the country; and so on. "Transgender" literally means "across gender." "Transgender" is defined today as an umbrella term with many different identities existing under it.
<em>Image via ccharmon on <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/9439733@N02/4922468556/" target="_hplink">Flickr.com</a></em>